WASHINGTON (CNS) — The latest version of a
Republican measure in the Senate to repeal the Affordable Care Act must be amended to
protect poor and vulnerable Americans, said the chairmen of four U.S. bishops’
committees.

“As you consider the Graham-Cassidy
legislation as a possible replacement for the Affordable Care Act, we urge you
to think of the harm that will be caused to poor and vulnerable people and
amend the legislation while retaining its positive features,” the bishops
said in a letter to all senators released Sept. 22.

Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and
Bill Cassidy of Louisiana have co-sponsored the legislation.

“Without significant improvement, this
bill does not meet the moral criteria for health care reform outlined in our
previous letters and must be changed,” they said. That criteria includes
respect for life and dignity; honoring conscience rights; access for all; and a
high-quality plan that is affordable and comprehensive.

The bishops criticized the measure’s Medicaid
“per capita cap” because it puts an “insufferable burden” on poor and
vulnerable Americans. They did praise the bill for correcting “a serious
flaw” in the ACA by ensuring “no federal funds are used for abortion
or go to plans that cover it.” They called on senators to amend the bill
to address it flaws but retain the pro-life provisions.

The Graham-Cassidy bill would repeal the ACA and replace it with block grants
for the states to spend as they see fit. The block grants’ size, though, would
shrink over time and disappear altogether in 2027. The Senate is working under
a Sept. 30 deadline to pass the bill.

The
letter was signed by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, chairman of the
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities;
Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the Committee for
Religious Liberty; Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, chairman of the
Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development; and Bishop Joe S. Vasquez
of Austin, Texas, chairman of the Committee on Migration.

“The
Graham-Cassidy bill includes a Medicaid ‘per capita cap’ that was part of
previous bills, which have been rejected,” the bishops wrote. “The
Medicaid caps will fundamentally restructure this vital program, which supports
the medical needs of those most in need. Over time, these modifications will
result in deep funding cuts and lost coverage for millions of people.

“The Senate should only proceed with a full report concerning just
how many people will be impacted,” they said. “Our nation must not attempt to address its
fiscal concerns by placing an insufferable health care burden on the backs of
the poor.”

The
bishops said the proposal does “correct a serious flaw” flaw in the ACA
by making sure “no federal funds are used for abortion or go to plans that
cover it.”

“This
improvement is praiseworthy, and it is essential that any improved final bill
retain these key provisions which would finally address grave moral problems in
our current health care system,” they said. “We also applaud that
Graham-Cassidy redirects funds from organizations that provide abortion.”

But
they took the bill to task for giving block grants to states “in place of
premium tax credits, cost-sharing subsidies and the Medicaid expansion,” saying
that arrangement will only harm the poor.

“While
flexibility can be good at times, these block grants will result in billions of
dollars in reductions for those in health care poverty,” they said. “States
already face significant deficits each budget cycle, and these block grants
mean dollars intended for low income individuals and families will suddenly
face competition from many other state priorities.”

The
country “can ill afford to put access to health care for those most in
need in jeopardy this way” because, the bishops continued, “the costs
to our communities, including public and private organizations at all levels,
will be too high.”

“Decisions
about the health of our citizens — a concern fundamental to each of us — should
not be made in haste simply because an artificial deadline looms,” they
said.

“The
far-reaching implications of Congress’ actions are too significant for that
kind of governance,” the committee chairmen said.

They
told senators that “the common good should call you to come together in a
bi-partisan way to pass thoughtful legislation that addresses the life,
conscience, immigrant access, market stability and affordability problems that
now exist.”

“Your
constituents, especially those with no voice of their own in this process,
deserve no less,” they concluded.

Earlier this year, as Senate Republicans
drafted and debated an ACA repeal measure, the U.S. bishops in letters and
statements repeatedly urged Congress to craft a bill meeting the moral criteria of respect for
life and dignity; honoring conscience rights; access for all; and a
high-quality plan that is affordable and comprehensive.

When the Senate failed
to get enough votes to pass what was being called a “skinny” repeal
to remove parts of the Affordable Care Act in the early hours of July 28,
Bishop Dewane in a statement said the “task of reforming the health care
system still remains.”

The nation’s health care system under the ACA “is
not financially sustainable” and “lacks full Hyde protections and
conscience rights,” he said at the time. He also noted the health care
system “is inaccessible to many immigrants,” he said in a statement.

The
U.S. bishops have advocated for universal and affordable health care for
decades and they supported the general goal of the Affordable Care Act, which
was passed in 2010, but the bishops ultimately opposed the law because it
expanded the federal role in abortion and failed to expand health care
protections to immigrants.

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